Guided Adventures

“We loved the whole experience, from the professional instruction and service, to the fall colors along the bosque, to the wildlife (Great blue heron, Canadian geese, Sandhill cranes... and a curious coyote), to the open skies above. Truly, you made our day!”

Our guided adventures offer an opportunity to take in the tremendous scenery of the middle Rio Grande valley while paddling your own canoe, kayak or SUP, all with the added benefit of a professional guide who is familiar with the nuances of this particular stretch of river, and we also provide a picnic along the way and bottled water throughout the tour!

Our guides are very helpful – they are accomplished paddlers familiar with this section of water, and will provide basic instruction on everything from paddle strokes to “reading” a river. They are also trained in rescue in case of a mishap, and are required to maintain certification in First Aid and CPR at a minimum.

Guided Adventure Options, Start Times and Rates:

Guided options are generally offered three times each day - please allow one hour each way for orientation and travel to and from the river (allow 5 hours for a three hour trip, etc.)

Schedule through Friday, October 2nd, 2015:

Rates are per-person, and a minimum of four adults are required to conduct a tour. If there are less than four in your party, please call or send a reservation request and and ask about availibility on the date and time you're interested in. Children under twelve who float along with a parent or guardian in the same boat do so at half price (Applies to children floating along with one adult in a kayak, solo canoe or SUP, or with two adults in a canoe).

*You are welcome to provide your own canoe, kayak or SUP; a discount of $10.00 per watercraft will be applied.

Rates are per-person, and a minimum of four adults are required to conduct a tour. If there are less than four in your party, please call or send a reservation request and and ask about availibility on the date and time you're interested in.

Limit of one adult per kayak or stand up paddleboard, or two adults per canoe.

Children under twelve who float along with a parent or guardian in the same boat do so at half price (Applies to children floating along with one adult in a kayak or two adults in a canoe).

Receive a discount of $10.00 per watercraft if you provide your own canoe, kayak or SUP.

Times reflect estimated time on the water - please add an hour both before and following for orientation and transportation to and from the river.

Please see the Waiver, Terms and Policies page for a link to our waiver, as well as our reservation policies, terms and procedures.

Tour Descriptions:

We are currently operating along approximately 18 miles of the middle Rio Grande, from the village of Algodones in the north, to the Alameda Bridge at the northern city limits of Albuquerque. Tour offerings will vary depending upon time of year, current flow levels and other factors, although we generally schedule tours from north to south throughout the day.

"The Coronado"

Covering a stretch of river that encompasses the area the Coronado campaign wintered in 1540, this adventure will put in among a beautiful stand of cottonwoods in Algodones, then traverse approximately 9 1/2 miles of remarkably secluded Rio Grande valley. The upper section of this trip features several interesting ancient volcanic formations and two small, Class I rapids. We'll break near Bernalillo for a light picnic, where the "Abreviar" option wraps up.

Following the break, the standard version continues for an additional hour and paddlers experience the Rio changing character as it widens and slows. Higher flow levels allow exploration of several secondary river channels, while riverbanks dominated by majestic old-growth cottonwood open regularly to reveal spectacular views of the Sandia mountains.

"The Bosque"

As the Rio Grande passes through Corrales, the river slowly widens, braiding into multiple channels as it meanders through seemingly endless cottonwood Bosque. Although this tour is quite close to the sprawling development of greater Albuquerque, it's a surreal wilderness experience on the water, as the east bank is dominated by the Sandia Pueblo lands, while the west bank is entirely protected Bosque preserve. We break for a light picnic at one of the numerous sandbars along the way.

Approaching Alameda, the Rio spills into numerous narrow channels, winding its way through several small islands, providing a tropical wetlands feel. Songbirds and waterfowl are plentiful in this section, and the views and sense of solitude are remarkable. This is a very mellow float trip with few sections of fast moving water.

Bosque Adventurers have three options:

"One Hour along the Bosque" – Bernalillo to Corrales – 4 miles - One Hour of "River Time"

Note: "The Bosque" and "Bosque Grande" Adventures are offered dependent upon current flow conditions. Please see the Current River Conditions page for more details, or call (505) 771-1234.

Sunset Floats!

Offered two or three times each month most of the year, our Sunset Float provides an opportunity to take in the Sandia Mountains bursting into their rich, watermelon colors in the light of the setting sun, and we follow with a campfire, an assortment of snacks, and S'mores!

Float the Fiesta!

Albuquerque’s annual Balloon Fiesta provides a lucky few with an opportunity to “Float the Fiesta!”, and take in the balloons as they soar over the river from the best seat in the house: relaxing in your canoe or kayak, far from the maddening crowds! Please see the dedicated Float the Fiesta!page for additional details and rates.